by Linda Jordan
“Company,” he said, looking out the window, then opened her door.
Mazzy, Sam and Bao came in the door, all of them armed.
“Are you all right, Cady?” asked Mazzy, who was holding a handgun. “We all heard the shot and yelling.”
“I think so. Yes, I’m feeling better.” She took some goat cheese out of her fridge, opened the cheesecloth and bit off a piece. She felt ravenous.
Strong magic had never affected her that way before, but she’d never used this much. Ever.
“What happened?” asked Sam.
Tank told them the story, embellishing it as he often did. Complete with her pulling the sky down and channeling the wind.
“Do you think they’ll come back?” asked Mazzy.
“I don’t know,” said Cady. “I have no idea why they were here in the first place.”
“Hellhounds used to carry warnings. Either that or they were just a precursor to someone’s death,” said Gia, who had come in the door during Tank’s story.
“Whose death?” asked Mazzy.
“Well, they came to my house,” said Cady. “But dammit, I don’t feel like dying today or in the near future. And you’re not going to either.” She pointed her finger at Monster, who sat on her bed, taking a bath.
People continued to arrive, to find out what had happened. Soon her house was full and Monster slipped out the door to escape the crowd. Cady remembered to unlatch the cat door, so he could come back in.
Mazzy made some mint and lavender tea and gave it to Cady, with a look on her face, that demanded she drink it. Tank told the story of what happened, adding more embellishments each time he told it.
Gia had brought a couple of books Cady hadn’t read. Beth brought a pastry made with dough, butter, apples and the last of the season’s blackberries. Cady shared it with everyone there. She savored the crisp, chewy dough. The apples and blackberries gave it a sweetness, the butter a richness.
“What a delicacy. Thank you Beth.”
“It’s the least I could do. Because of all of you, I have a life again. And a new home. And my children and I are safe.”
“We all need to stick together,” said Tank. “We’re stronger that way, against anything that comes.”
“Seems like Cady’s strong enough on her own,” said Mateo.
“No, no. I’m not,” said Cady. “I only survived because this house protected me until I could figure out what to do. If I’d been outside and fired that shot, those hellhounds would have killed me. We really do need all of us. I have a feeling that things are going to change. And soon. We need to be ready for anything.”
Sam asked, “How are things going to change?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have clear visions like yours. I think it will have something to do with the deities. Have you seen anything?”
Sam shook his head, “Nothing clear. I’m not entirely sure we’re done with those people from the Zoo, either.”
“How do you mean?”
“I saw a vision. We know they’re living in our old village. In my vision I saw them forming an army. Morrigu was there and so was the man who was in charge, the one who came with us to our old village.”
“Damon?” asked Cady.
“Yeah, that was his name. I saw him.”
“Did they come here?” she asked. “Attack us?”
“I didn’t see anything clearly. My visions aren’t always clear, either. The future is in flux, it’s not a set thing. Some future events are clear, more likely to happen. Others, like our future, are really cloudy. Nothing’s set. I think we make our own future.”
“Then, let’s make a future where we stick together, support each other and are ready for anything,” said Mazzy.
Cady said, “I agree. We all need to be ready to fight or flee. Whichever needs to happen at the time.”
“Let’s build a cache. Up the hill, in the forest. Everyone can stash what they’d need to flee with. We will check it several times a week to make sure everything’s still there. Keep it stocked with traveling food, seeds, clothes, etc. What we’d need to start over. If we don’t get any time to pack,” said Mazzy.
“That sounds like a good idea,” said Mateo. “Ryan and I can scout around for a good location. Build something that’s dug out of the hillside and is naturally camouflaged. Maybe even make it large enough to fit everyone, in an emergency. A place to hide.”
“With a tunnel that gives us a back door,” said Sam. “Just in case we need it.”
“Do you think the Hellhounds will return?” asked Mazzy.
“I have no idea,” said Cady.
“Let’s hope they don’t,” said Mateo. “Either that, or let’s hope Cady’s around if they do. I couldn’t have done that.”
“None of us could,” said Tank.
“I’m not so sure about that,” said Cady.
“What exactly did you do?” asked Gia.
“After shooting one didn’t do anything except make it want to attack,” said Cady, “I decided I was thinking too much. Trying to figure out how to make them go away. I knew I needed to stop thinking and just act. I drew power up from the earth and down from the sky. Then I let the energy mingle in my body and blasted it at the hounds. I wrapped it around them, leaving an opening towards the woods, away from the village. I wanted them to run that direction, not towards Tank and Mateo. Or the village. They did and I just kept pushing them, blasting them with power.”
“So, it could have been you that burned the path through the woods,” said Mateo.
“I don’t think so, I think it was the hounds,” said Cady.
“Hellhounds burn the ground they walk on,” said Gia.
Everyone turned to look at her.
“At least that’s what the myths say,” Gia said.
“And you don’t know why they came?” asked Beth.
“No,” said Cady.
“Sometimes they come to warn of a death,” said Gia. “Other times they’ve been known to escort people to safety during the night. They’re generally nocturnal. In the myths at least.”
Cady shuddered. She didn’t want to meet any of them ever again. Night or day.
The rest of the day remained out of the ordinary. After everyone left, Cady swept out her very dirty house again. She pulled on her heavy coat and a hat and went down to the Commons where everyone was meeting, after they’d decided their house wasn’t large enough to hold them all.
Cady arrived early. Tank came in next, carrying a staff as tall as her head. It was intricately carved with plants and vines and polished to a gleam. He handed it to her.
“I made this for you. I know you’ve fallen a couple of times. Thought this might help,” he said.
She touched the walking stick and felt the magic flowing inside it. Tank clearly had power for doing work like this.
She examined the staff. The wood was reddish colored. In some places he’d left the part that lay between the bark and inner wood intact, leaving it a deep red-brown. The carvings were elaborate and except for the very bottom and a smooth grip, every part was carved. Cady could pick out the different plants and vines.
“This is extraordinary Tank. Are you sure you want to give it away?”
“To you, yes. I’m honored to make a gift for you,” he said, his face flushing red.
“You know there’s powerful magic in this?”
“It’s madrona wood. I just like to carve. It makes me feel calm.”
“Well, you’ve got more magic than you realize. Thank you very much. I shall keep this with me always.”
More people arrived and the meeting began. Mateo and Ryan had spent the intervening time searching for a place for the cache.
“We’ll need help digging it all out. It might be hard going, especially if we run into more rock, but we think the three visible boulders are the only ones there. We’ll need help putting up the inside supports. Can’t have all that earth tumbling down into it,” said Ryan.
Mazzy helped th
em come up with a schedule where the villagers could take turns digging. Ryan would spend the first day out with Tank and Brady searching for the materials they’d need to support the interior. Logan and Mateo were in charge of supervising the few digging shifts.
The rest of them made other plans. Sharine and Beth were tasked with making a list of what people should gather.
Gia was organizing the magic classes for children and adults. Making sure everyone kept progressing on their skills. Cady was assigned to be at all of them. Onyx was too, when he was around. Which had been infrequently, of late.
As everyone was about to leave to prepare and eat their evening meals the ground began to shake. Everyone ran for the door to get outside thinking it was an earthquake.
The crowd plugged up the door and came to a stop as they saw what lay outside. Everyone slowly moved out onto the wraparound porch.
Four large, dark shapes stood between them and the lake. One was Onyx. The other three must be the young dragons Onyx had told Cady about.
She could hear them breathing, like a wind. They all seemed out of breath.
Her heart beat in panic as she saw them. The three young dragons were twice the size of Onyx. And very different looking.
Behind Onyx stood a blood red dragon. It had a long thin neck and the same length tail. The dragon’s massive red wings had yellow-gold outlines and markings. The beautiful eyes were a mesmerizing shade of green, about the color of a pear. The dragon had long flowing protrusions from the forehead, nostrils, chin and all down the spine. It reminded her of a picture she’d seen once labeled—Chinese dragon. Although Cady had no idea what Chinese meant.
The dragon next to the red one was a brilliant yellow-green color. With scales as smooth and sleek as its body, which was long and sinuous. The wings smaller than the red one’s, but larger than Onyx’s. Its eyes were pure black and it had a wavy fleshy protrusion that ran the length of its spine. The green dragon also had huge black claws on its feet.
The one closest to the lake peered out from behind the others with golden yellow eyes. A radiant royal blue color, the scales glistened like jewels. It had a mane of wavy flesh behind the head and was the largest dragon of them all. The wings were clouded with a yellow and blue in a way that made Cady hold her breath.
Each of the four dragons were magnificent in their own way.
“Cady,” said Mazzy, after a very long time. Her voice filled with worry.
“Onyx,” said Cady. “Would you like to introduce your friends?”
She felt worried too. Hoped that Onyx had been spending his time away educating the dragons and teaching them some manners.
Onyx bowed and said, “My friends, these are three dragons who I met on my travels. They haven’t had much experience with humans. They are young still and I have been telling them about you.” He turned to the other dragons and asked, “Would you each please tell them your names?”
“I am Fire,” said the blood-red dragon, with a deep voice that resonated in Cady’s chest like a drumbeat.
“I am Moss,” said the green dragon. This one’s voice was pitched a little higher.
“I am Gentian,” said the blue dragon, in a very quiet voice for such a huge being. The blue dragon was the size of her house. Probably bigger.
Onyx said to the villagers, “If you would each step forward and say your own name, that would help them remember.
Cady stepped forward, planted her walking stick in the ground, bowed slightly and said, “I am Cady, I’m pleased to meet you.” Then she returned to where she’d been standing.
Would the dragons remember everyone’s names? She wouldn’t have been able to do that. Then again, she was getting old. Her memory wasn’t what it once had been.
The villagers introduced themselves, one by one. After they’d finished, the dragons bowed at them.
Onyx said to the young dragons, “There are other villagers who aren’t here right now. You will be able to meet them later. None of the children are here. You must be very, very careful around them. Children move quickly sometimes and they do not always have control of their bodies. You must watch where you step and be careful of swishing your tail at all times. Humans are very delicate creatures.”
The young dragons nodded as if in understanding.
“Are your friends here to stay?” asked Cady.
“Yes, if the village approves,” said Onyx.
“You know our first rule,” said Mazzy. “Harm no one.”
“We do. I have told them many things about humans. And the rules of this village,” said Onyx. “We will stay away from the smaller animals, the sheep, goats and the like. They do not understand us and we frighten them. We will confine ourselves to the Commons area and the meadow between here and the forest while we are here. As always, we welcome conversation.”
“Good,” said Cady. “We will be continuing our magic classes and you have always been a great help with them. Our understanding of magic is limited.”
“You have come into some new power I can see,” said Onyx.
“How can you tell?” asked Cady.
“You look different. There is power and wind swirling about you that was not there before. Movement.”
“Huh,” said Cady. She felt different, but couldn’t exactly say how. Was it because of all the things that happened recently? Or the walking stick? Or everything combined?
“We will go to the meadow now. And sleep. We have been traveling for days and are very tired.”
Onyx bowed his head at the villagers and the other three did the same. Then they followed him, walking across the grass to the lake, drinking deeply and then settling down into one huge clump in the meadow. In the oncoming dusk, they looked like a massive boulder.
“Well, this has been quite a day,” said Cady. “I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings.”
13
Damon
Damon was walking through the village in the pouring rain, talking to Gregor. It was almost always dark and rainy these days. They hadn’t hit the shortest day of the year yet. It was still fall, but growing colder every week.
Gregor and Damon were looking at the four new buildings Karan and his team had built. Almost all were full of the new recruits now.
The barracks smelled like freshly cut wood, a scent Damon found pleasant. Each one held twenty beds. There was no privacy. No time for the builders to construct any sort of barriers between beds.
Ever since the arms raid, young women and men had been pouring into the village. As Morrigu’s reputation spread. Kids looking for excitement and adventure. And perhaps glory.
Damon didn’t want to be the first to tell them that there was no glory in fighting or war. Excitement and adventure yes, but a lot of slogging came along with those.
First, there would be plenty of hard work. Gregor was seeing to that. Most of the new recruits were in decent shape, but few of them had any skill at fighting. Gregor had assigned Maria to teach the beginners. That took some of the pressure off him to teach everyone, and she was experienced enough to handle it. The woman had a passion for excellence that was infectious.
Damon said, “I need to figure out some sort of structure for all of us. Armies used to have generals and captains and other ranks. I don’t really know about that. You studied a lot of old wars. We need find some way to show people who they’re answerable to. Some sort of ranking system.”
Gregor said, “I can do that. After dinner tonight, let’s sit and figure things out. You’re right. We’ve got so many new people and they can’t tell who to listen to, and who’s as new as them and knows nothing.”
“Good,” said Damon.
“Have you started sparring with Evangeline yet?”
“No. She’s barely off bed rest. I don’t think she’s even running yet.”
“Well, you’d better find someone then.”
“I’ll work on thinking about that,” said Damon. “Maybe I’ll just spar with some of the more experienced soldiers. I�
��m so out of practice, they’ll probably beat me to a pulp.”
“Well, don’t kill them,” said Gregor laughing. “We’ll need them.”
“I really need an assistant. What’s your opinion of Callie?”
“It’s about time you came to that conclusion. Things have gotten so big, you can’t possibly do everything. None of us can anymore. I think Callie can do anything she sets her mind to. She’s ambitious, sharp and doesn’t miss anything. She’s a decent fighter, but not great. I’d trust her in a battle mainly because she doesn’t give up. She’s the one who could be beaten to a pulp and she’ll still keep fighting. Long after someone more skilled will have thrown it in.”
Jax had given Callie a similar glowing recommendation when Damon spoke to him yesterday.
“You think she’s organized enough to be a good assistant.”
“I think she’ll make you look disorganized,” said Gregor, grinning.
“Guess I’ll give her a try. Once I figure out what title to give her.”
“We’re running out of space to build more barracks, aren’t we?” asked Gregor.
“Yeah. I’m not happy about cutting down more large trees, either. It would expose us too much. I don’t trust that Collins won’t return, looking for us.”
“We just have to hope that Jack didn’t have enough time or resources to contact Collins and give away our location. But I agree about staying hidden. Do we have a move out time?” asked Gregor.
“We won’t know till Morrigu returns, if and when we move.”
“What do you mean if?”
“She mentioned having an idea. I think it was something that involved only her. If that happens, and she’s successful, we won’t be moving out to fight. Some, or maybe all of us, would be moving out to take over. I’d be happy to skip the war part of this.”
“All this young energy won’t be,” said Gregor.
“I know. We’d have to let them do some looting.”
“That would be a waste. Destruction for no reason is stupid.”
